DOCSLIB.ORG

The Rise and Fall of Grover Cleveland Alexander

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Rise and Fall of Grover Cleveland Alexander Nebraska History posts materials online for your personal use. Please remember that the contents of Nebraska History are copyrighted by the Nebraska State Historical Society (except for materials credited to other institutions). The NSHS retains its copyrights even to materials it posts on the web. For permission to re-use materials or for photo ordering information, please see: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/magazine/permission.htm Nebraska State Historical Society members receive four issues of Nebraska History and four issues of Nebraska History News annually. For membership information, see: http://nebraskahistory.org/admin/members/index.htm Article Title: His Own Worst Enemy: The Rise and Fall of Grover Cleveland Alexander Full Citation: Andrea I Paul, "His Own Worst Enemy: The Rise and Fall of Grover Cleveland Alexander," Nebraska History 71 (1990): 2-12. URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1990Alexander.pdf Date: 1/29/2014 Article Summary: This is the story of Hall of Fame major league baseball pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander, who rose to greatness in the world of professional baseball and died poverty-stricken in his hometown of St Paul, Nebraska. His life was marked by professional success and personal failure. Cataloging Information: Names: Tony Lazzeri, William Alexander, Martha Grover Cleveland, Honus Wagner, Tris Speaker, Napoleon Lajoie, George Sisler, Walter Johnson, Eddie Collins, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, Cy Young, Bill Killefer, Aimee Arrants Alexander, Joe McCarthy, Roger Hornsby, Bill Sherdel, Christy Mathewson, Johnny Hopp, Bob Johnson, Wade Boggs, Ron Hansen, Sam Crawford, Richie Ashburn, Billy Southworth, Les Nunamaker, Bob Gibson, Mel Harder, Clarence Mitchell, Tim Burke, Gregg Olson, Grantland Rice, Pickles Dillhoefer, Mike Pendergast, Ronald Reagan, Doris Day, Hans Lobert, Douglas Fairbanks Sr Place Names: St Paul, Nebraska; Aurora, Nebraska; South Platte, Nebraska; Galesburg, Illinois; St Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Syracuse, Nebraska; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Cooperstown, New York; Central City, Nebraska; Burwell, Nebraska; Knox College; Omaha, Nebraska; Evansville, Indiana; Long Beach, California Keywords: 342nd Field Artillery; St Paul Phonograph, National Baseball Hall of Fame, St Louis Cardinals; Philadelphia Phillies; Howard County Telephone Company; Illinois-Missouri League; Regal Shoe Company; Syracuse Journal; Philadelphia Athletics; National League; Baker Bowl (Philadelphia); Chicago Cubs; 1926 World Series; The Winning Team (movie); Cy Young Award; House of David (baseball team) Photographs / Images: Grover Cleveland Alexander as a St Louis Cardinal, 1926-1930; Grover Cleveland Alexander in World War I uniform; Thirteen inductees into baseball's Hall of Fame; Alexander as a player- manager with the House of David baseball team from 1931-1936; Inset poem "Alexander the Great" by Walt Mason; Grover Cleveland Alexander pitching to Douglas Fairbanks Sr with Bill Killefer of the Chicago Cubs catching; Aimee Alexander with Ronald Reagan during filming of The Winning Team; Inset "Nebraskans in Major League Baseball including photos of Bob Gibson, Grover C Alexander HIS OWN WORST ENEMY: THE RISE AND FALL OF GROVER CLEVELAND ALEXANDER By Andrea I. Paul The life of Grover Cleveland Alexan­ New York flea circus and appeared in a earning $1.75 a day. His Sundays were der, a Nebraska farm boy who scaled penny arcade, earning pocket money spent playing baseball for the St. Paul the heights of baseball greatness and by answering questions about his glory team. In June he was recruited by the died poverty-stricken and virtually days. Only a few months after his 1939 Central City team, and on June 30 he friendless in his hometown, was induction into baseball's Hall of Fame, recorded his first victory for his new marked by great successes pro­ Alexander summed up his financial team by downing Aurora, 7-2. The local fessionally and miserable personal condition by complaining, "They gave newspaper referred to their new failures. As the third winningest me a tablet up at the Cooperstown Hall pitcher as George Alexander, a mistake pitcher in major league history, the of Fame, but I can't eat any tablet."2 the reporter would not make again, and legend known as "Alexander the Twice married and divorced from the claimed that his pitching "proved to be Great" holds national league records same woman, Grover Cleveland Alex­ a mystery to the South Platte for victories, career shutouts, and com­ ander died alone in a St. Paul, Ne­ warriors."4 During that season with plete games; the rookie record for vic­ braska, rooming house on November 4, Central City, Alexander's pitching tories; and the season record for 1950. remained a mystery to the opposition shui:outs. In one three-year span, he The son of William Alexander, an as he won twenty-one games, including won ninety-four games for the Elba (Nebraska) farmer, and his wife, a no-hitter, while losing only four Philadelphia Phillies. The height of his Martha, Grover Cleveland Alexander contests. success came in 1926 when he pitched was born on February 26,1887, and was From Central City, Alexander went the St. Louis Cardi6als to a world named after the president of the to Burwell, where he pitched during championship, in the process striking United States. Baseball's influence September and early October 1908, out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded, was strong in rural areas during the compiling a winning record. Among his in what many consider to be the game's early years of this century, and it's victories were two against the cele­ most famous strikeout. likely that Grover and his twelve brated Green's Nebraska Indians, one In contrast to his baseball career, brothers were involved in the sport of the best semi-pro teams in the Alexander's personal life was marred during their childhood. In reviewing his Midwest.5 by physical and emotional problems. local career, the St. Paul Phonograph Word of Alexander's success Deafened by artillery shells during reported in 1926 that Grover Alexander reached semi-professional teams out­ World War I, he also suffered from played with the Elba team, as well as side Nebraska. In 1909 his professional epilepsy.' It is unclear whether these with other local teams that needed a career began when Alexander signed a afflictions contributed to his alcohol­ good pitcher. In the fall of 1907, he contract with Galesburg of the Illinois­ ism, a problem that reached legendary attracted outside attention when he Missouri League. Alexander's physical proportions. After a twenty-year major pitched a game for Ord at the Valley attributes - over six feet in height with league career, Alexander was removed County Fair, winning 8-0 while striking red hair and freckles - were immed­ from the lineup by the Cardinals after a out thirteen batters. During a game the iately reported by a Galesburg news­ drinking binge and ended his career next day, he held Ord's opponent paperman, who described him as with a barnstorming House of David scoreless for four innings, earning a blonde of the ruddy type ... (with) the build of a team. After his retirement from another victory and a reputation in cen­ switch engine. Manager Jap (Wagner) figures he organized baseball, Alexander joined a 3 can see the big strawberry slinger floating up puz­ tral Nebraska. zles to the opposing batsmen already and is much In 1908 Alexander was working for taken with his looks.6 Andrea I. Paul is assistant state archivist the Howard County Telephone Com­ at the Nebraska State Historical Society. pany, doing field construction work and The Galesburg Boosters' first test 3 Nebraska History - Spring 1990 was an exhibition game against home­ town Knox College, a 6-4 win. Alexan­ der ended the game as a relief pitcher, keeping the collegians "guessing all the time." His legendary pinpoint control was not yet evident as he walked three batters during this brief appearance.7 He was back in form for the season opener against Monmouth, striking out nine men but losing the game 5-4 because of three errors committed by his teammates. After two victories over Pekin" in mid-May-a one-hitter in which Alexander himself got three hits and a shutout in which Alexander struck out sixteen-the Galesburg press nicknamed him "Alexander the Great."x The St. Paul newspapers followed Alexander's success with unabashed glee, although the nickname attached to him in the local press was "Dode." After his first victory over Pekin, the St. Paul Phonograph-Press reported, "It is evident that 'Dode' has won a home in Galesburg. May he continue to strike them out at every game."') There were many highlights in Alex­ ander's first season of organized baseball. In one game, Alexander hit a ball out of the park, over a Regal shoe sign in left field. He received a bonus of ten dollars after the players passed a hat among the fans and presented the collection to Alexander after the game. In addition, he was awarded a pair of Regal shoes. lo In another game, Alex­ ander led the Boosters to a 1-0 eleven inning victory over Pekin, allowing only five hits by the opposition and driving in the winning run himself. I I As his fame grew, Alexander was given still another nickname, "0. U. Alexander" (to be read as "Oh, you Alexander") and was sometimes During World War I Alexander served with the 342nd Artillery Battalion of the Eighty-ninth Infantry. A shrapnel wound to his right ear and partial deafness caused by the roar ofartillery contributed to his later health prob­ lems. Courtesy of National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York. 4 Grover Cleveland Alexander Alexander was one ofthe original thirteen inductees into baseball's Hall,of Fame. Here he poses in 1939 with greats ofthe game: Honus Wagner (standing at left), Alexander, Tris Speaker, Napoleon Lajoie, George Sisler, WalterJohnson; Eddie C9llins (sitting at left), Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, and Cy Young.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Repeal of Baseball's Longstanding Antitrust Exemption: Did Congress Strike out Again?
    Repeal of Baseball's Longstanding Antitrust Exemption: Did Congress Strike out Again? INTRODUCrION "Baseball is everybody's business."' We have just witnessed the conclusion of perhaps the greatest baseball season in the history of the game. Not one, but two men broke the "unbreakable" record of sixty-one home-runs set by New York Yankee great Roger Maris in 1961;2 four men hit over fifty home-runs, a number that had only been surpassed fifteen times in the past fifty-six years,3 while thirty-three players hit over thirty home runs;4 Barry Bonds became the only player to record 400 home-runs and 400 stolen bases in a career;5 and Alex Rodriguez, a twenty-three-year-old shortstop, joined Bonds and Jose Canseco as one of only three men to have recorded forty home-runs and forty stolen bases in a 6 single season. This was not only an offensive explosion either. A twenty- year-old struck out twenty batters in a game, the record for a nine inning 7 game; a perfect game was pitched;' and Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays won his unprecedented fifth Cy Young award.9 Also, the Yankees won 1. Flood v. Kuhn, 309 F. Supp. 793, 797 (S.D.N.Y. 1970). 2. Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs and Sammy Sosa hit 66. Frederick C. Klein, There Was More to the Baseball Season Than McGwire, WALL ST. J., Oct. 2, 1998, at W8. 3. McGwire, Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr., and Greg Vaughn did this for the St.
    [Show full text]
  • In, Lose, Or Draw Arcade Pontiac
    SPORTS CLASSIFIED ADS P 7hl>1trttlT AvlA A A2) CLASSIFIED ADS JUNE 1951 ^t-UvIUIly JJU WEDNESDAY, 20, ** White Sox Finally Convince Yankees They re the Team to Beat I Holmes Preparing to Play About w or Draw Worrying in, Lose, as By FRANCIS STANN As Well Manage Braves DESPITE THOSE RUMORS that Billy Southworth may turn Wrong Fellows/ up with the Pirates next season, odds are that Billy is finished for keeps as a manager—just as Joe McCarthy is retired. Here were two of the best of all managers in their heydays, but they Stengel Thinks punished themselves severely. It’s odd, too, that .both careers were broken off in Boston. 60,441 Fans Thrilled They made a grim pair on the field. Maybe that’s why they were successful. McCarthy By Chicago's Rally won one pennant for the Cubs and eight for the To Split Twin Bill Yankees. Southworth won three pennants •y tha Associated Press in a row for the Cardinals, another for the Braves. When they were winning they were Those fighting White Sox ari tops' as managers. But adversity and advancing making believers of their oppo years eventually took their toll on the nervous nents—team by team, manager b; systems of these intense men. manager. McCarthy quit the Yankees in 1946 when Now it’s New York and Manage the third it became evident that, for straight Casey Stengel singing the praise to win. He sat on his year, he wasn’t going of the spectacular Sox. at Buffalo for two and was called porch years "Maybe we’ve been worryini back the Red Sox.
    [Show full text]
  • Fair Ball! Why Adjustments Are Needed
    © Copyright, Princeton University Press. No part of this book may be distributed, posted, or reproduced in any form by digital or mechanical means without prior written permission of the publisher. CHAPTER 1 Fair Ball! Why Adjustments Are Needed King Arthur’s quest for it in the Middle Ages became a large part of his legend. Monty Python and Indiana Jones launched their searches in popular 1974 and 1989 movies. The mythic quest for the Holy Grail, the name given in Western tradition to the chal- ice used by Jesus Christ at his Passover meal the night before his death, is now often a metaphor for a quintessential search. In the illustrious history of baseball, the “holy grail” is a ranking of each player’s overall value on the baseball diamond. Because player skills are multifaceted, it is not clear that such a ranking is possible. In comparing two players, you see that one hits home runs much better, whereas the other gets on base more often, is faster on the base paths, and is a better fielder. So which player should rank higher? In Baseball’s All-Time Best Hitters, I identified which players were best at getting a hit in a given at-bat, calling them the best hitters. Many reviewers either disapproved of or failed to note my definition of “best hitter.” Although frequently used in base- ball writings, the terms “good hitter” or best hitter are rarely defined. In a July 1997 Sports Illustrated article, Tom Verducci called Tony Gwynn “the best hitter since Ted Williams” while considering only batting average.
    [Show full text]
  • Lot# Title Bids Sale Price 1
    Huggins and Scott'sAugust 7, 2014 Auction Prices Realized SALE LOT# TITLE BIDS PRICE 1 Ultimate 1974 Topps Baseball Experience: #1 PSA Graded Master, Traded & Team Checklist Sets with (564) PSA12 10,$ Factory82,950.00 Set, Uncut Sheet & More! [reserve met] 2 1869 Peck & Snyder Cincinnati Red Stockings (Small) Team Card SGC 10—First Baseball Card Ever Produced!22 $ 16,590.00 3 1933 Goudey Baseball #106 Napoleon Lajoie—PSA Authentic 21 $ 13,035.00 4 1908-09 Rose Co. Postcards Walter Johnson SGC 45—First Offered and Only Graded by SGC or PSA! 25 $ 10,072.50 5 1911 T205 Gold Border Kaiser Wilhelm (Cycle Back) “Suffered in 18th Line” Variation—SGC 60 [reserve not met]0 $ - 6 1915 E145 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb PSA 5 22 $ 7,702.50 7 (65) 1909-11 T206 White Border Singles with (40) Graded Including (4) Hall of Famers 16 $ 2,370.00 8 (37) 1909-11 T206 White Border PSA 1-4 Graded Cards with Willis 8 $ 1,125.75 9 (5) 1909-11 T206 White Borders PSA Graded Cards with Mathewson 9 $ 711.00 10 (3) 1911 T205 Gold Borders with Mordecai Brown, Walter Johnson & Cy Young--All SGC Authentic 12 $ 711.00 11 (3) 1909-11 T206 White Border Ty Cobb SGC Authentic Singles--Different Poses 14 $ 1,777.50 12 1909-11 T206 White Borders Walter Johnson (Portrait) & Christy Mathewson (White Cap)--Both SGC Authentic 9 $ 444.38 13 1909-11 T206 White Borders Ty Cobb (Green Portrait) SGC 55 12 $ 3,555.00 14 1909-11 T205 & T206 Hall of Famers with Lajoie, Mathewson & McGraw--All SGC Graded 12 $ 503.63 15 (4) 1887 N284 Buchner Gold Coin SGC 60 Graded Singles 4 $ 770.25 16 (6)
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 Connie Mack League Rules A
    2017 CONNIE MACK LEAGUE RULES A. TEAM ENTRY PROCEDURE: 1. Managers are required to submit their team entry card when entering their team. B. GAME FEES: 1. The Cleveland Baseball Federation pays all game fees for City of Cleveland teams. 2. Non-resident teams may only enter if room is available and they pay their game fees. “ PLAYER ELIGIBILITY AND REGISTRATION ” C. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY: 1. City of Cleveland residents have first priority on participating in this league. - Residency is defined when either parent or legal guardian lives in Cleveland. 2. Age Limit: Ages 19 and under, cannot turn 20 years old before August 1, 2017. 3. Non-residents can play: Each team may have (7) non-residents on their roster. 4. More than (1) team: Each team may have no more than (5) players who play on 2 teams. D. SQUAD SIZE: 1. The roster limit is 18 players for all leagues. E. CONTRACT CARDS: 1. Any coach who plays an illegal player and the illegal player will be suspended for (4) games. 2. Verified and approved contract cards must be available at all games. 3. Two contract cards must be validated at the Division of Recreation administrative office prior to the team’s first game between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 4. Minors must have a parent or legal guardian sign the contracts. 5. NO PICTURES are required on the contract cards. 6. Players must have a photo I.D. with him at each game. 8. Signing Deadline to add players: Teams may add players before July 1, 2017.
    [Show full text]
  • Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame - Page 1 Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame - Page 2 Tonight’S Program
    28th Annual Greater Flint Area SpOrts Mali-vai Washington 1951 Flint mandeville Mike czarnecki Football team Bill hajec 1961 buick colts Todd lyght Baseball team Bob chipman Frank smorch 1983 & 1984 flint northwestern girls Tom Yeotis basketball teams Special service Award 2007 INDUCTION BANQUET Saturday, December 1, 2007 Genesys Conference & Banquet Center Grand Blanc, Michigan 2007 17 GREATER FLINT AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME - PAGE 1 GREATER FLINT AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME - PAGE 2 TONIGHT’S PROGRAM SOCIAL HOUR AND CASH BAR 5:30 to 6:30 Welcome, Introduction of Guests and Officers.....Tom Healey, President INTRODUCTION OF THE 2007 INDUCTEES Master of Ceremonies: Bill Troesken, Member Board of Directors Invocation: Rev. Roy Horning, Pastor of St. Robert Church-Flushing National Anthem: Choraleers from Carman-Ainsworth High School ENJOY YOUR DINNER Presentation of the Class of 2007.......................................Bill Troesken THE 2007 INDUCTEES Bill Hajec Bob Chipman Mali-Vai Washington Mike Czarnecki Todd Lyght Frank Smorch - Represented by his son, Frank Smorch Tom Yeotis - Special Service Award Flint Northwestern 1983 & 1984 Girls Basketball Teams Flint Mandeville 1951 Football Team Buick Colts 1961 Baseball Team Join us for Autographs and Afterglow by the Plaques GREATER FLINT AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME - PAGE 3 GREATER FLINT AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME - PAGE 4 GREATER FLINT AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME - PAGE 5 Foundation Flint Sports Hall AD_07 10/24/07 9:32 AM Page 1 THE FOUNDATION FOR Salutes Tom Yeotis A great MCC alumnus, a great citizen, a great athlete and a standout in every aspect of life. Congratulations on your Special Service Award from the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to the Babe Ruth Scrapbooks, 1921-1935
    Guide to the Lou Gehrig Scrapbooks, 1920-1942 National Baseball Hall of Fame Library National Baseball Hall of Fame 25 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 www.baseballhalloffame.org This guide to the scrapbooks was prepared by Howard Hamme, Intern 2007 and reviewed by Claudette Burke in December 2007. Collection Number: BA SCR 54 BL-268.56 & BL-269.56 Title: Lou Gehrig Scrapbooks Inclusive Dates: 1920-1942 Extent: 2.2 linear feet (5 scrapbooks) Repository: National Baseball Hall of Fame Library National Baseball Hall of Fame 25 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 Abstract: This collection contains the scrapbooks of Henry Louis Gehrig, with materials collected by his wife Eleanor Gehrig. The scrapbooks cover the years 1920-1942, with a variety of materials documenting Gehrig’s activities on and off-field, beginning with his youth and ending with coverage of his death. Original donated scrapbooks were in two volumes. Conserved in October 2005 by NEDCC. Acquisition Information: This collection was a gift of Mrs. Eleanor Gehrig in 1956. Preferred Citation: Lou Gehrig Scrapbooks, BA SCR 54, National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, National Baseball Hall of Fame. Access Restrictions: By appointment only. Available Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A Finding aid and microfilm copy available. Copyright: Property rights reside with the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library. For further information on reproduction and publication, please contact the library. Separations: None Processing Information: This collection was processed by Howard Hamme and reviewed by Claudette Burke in December 2007. History Lou Gehrig had 13 consecutive seasons with both 100 runs scored and 100 RBI, averaging 139 runs and 148 RBI.
    [Show full text]
  • Al Brancato This Article Was Written by David E
    Al Brancato This article was written by David E. Skelton The fractured skull Philadelphia Athletics shortstop Skeeter Newsome suffered on April 9, 1938 left a gaping hole in the club’s defense. Ten players, including Newsome after he recovered, attempted to fill the void through the 1939 season. One was Al Brancato, a 20- year-old September call-up from Class-A ball who had never played shortstop professionally. Enticed by the youngster’s cannon right arm, Athletics manager Connie Mack moved him from third base to short in 1940. On June 21, after watching Brancato retire Chicago White Sox great Luke Appling on a hard-hit grounder, Mack exclaimed, “There’s no telling how good that boy is going to be.”1 Though no one in the organization expected the diminutive (5-feet-nine and 188 pounds) Philadelphia native’s offense to cause fans to forget former Athletics infield greats Home Run Baker or Eddie Collins, the club was satisfied that Brancato could fill in defensively. “You keep on fielding the way you are and I’ll do the worrying about your hitting,” Mack told Brancato in May 1941.2 Ironically, the youngster’s defensive skills would fail him before the season ended. In September, as the club spiraled to its eighth straight losing season, “baseball’s grand old gentleman” lashed out. “The infielders—[Benny] McCoy, Brancato and [Pete] Suder—are terrible,” Mack grumbled. “They have hit bottom. Suder is so slow it is painful to watch him; Brancato is erratic and McCoy is—oh, he’s just McCoy, that’s all.” 3 After the season ended Brancato enlisted in the US Navy following the country’s entry into the Second World War.
    [Show full text]
  • Baseball Classics All-Time All-Star Greats Game Team Roster
    BASEBALL CLASSICS® ALL-TIME ALL-STAR GREATS GAME TEAM ROSTER Baseball Classics has carefully analyzed and selected the top 400 Major League Baseball players voted to the All-Star team since it's inception in 1933. Incredibly, a total of 20 Cy Young or MVP winners were not voted to the All-Star team, but Baseball Classics included them in this amazing set for you to play. This rare collection of hand-selected superstars player cards are from the finest All-Star season to battle head-to-head across eras featuring 249 position players and 151 pitchers spanning 1933 to 2018! Enjoy endless hours of next generation MLB board game play managing these legendary ballplayers with color-coded player ratings based on years of time-tested algorithms to ensure they perform as they did in their careers. Enjoy Fast, Easy, & Statistically Accurate Baseball Classics next generation game play! Top 400 MLB All-Time All-Star Greats 1933 to present! Season/Team Player Season/Team Player Season/Team Player Season/Team Player 1933 Cincinnati Reds Chick Hafey 1942 St. Louis Cardinals Mort Cooper 1957 Milwaukee Braves Warren Spahn 1969 New York Mets Cleon Jones 1933 New York Giants Carl Hubbell 1942 St. Louis Cardinals Enos Slaughter 1957 Washington Senators Roy Sievers 1969 Oakland Athletics Reggie Jackson 1933 New York Yankees Babe Ruth 1943 New York Yankees Spud Chandler 1958 Boston Red Sox Jackie Jensen 1969 Pittsburgh Pirates Matty Alou 1933 New York Yankees Tony Lazzeri 1944 Boston Red Sox Bobby Doerr 1958 Chicago Cubs Ernie Banks 1969 San Francisco Giants Willie McCovey 1933 Philadelphia Athletics Jimmie Foxx 1944 St.
    [Show full text]
  • Em Reading: Hit a Home Run with Reading
    Hit a Home Run with Reading! • Keep ’em Reading • Grades by | Carol Thompson K–2, 3–5 Library Incentive Program and Party Join the World Series anticipation with this read- ing incentive and encourage your students to hit a home run. This month-long unit will prove to a fun learning experience. Objective: To get kids to read Incentive Summary This is a great incentive for October (World Series) or springtime incentive. Using the theme of base- ball, students are encouraged to hit a home run Activities and celebrate their favorite teams and players while • Read various baseball books. (Suggested learning about the history of America’s best-loved Resources on page 4.) sport. Readers keep up with their stats on a base- • Locate fan Web sites and have students write ball field record sheet and earn tickets to the com- a letter to a favorite player, manager, or coach. munity minor league baseball team on the school Teach and/or review proper form for friendly night. The school also hosts an old-fashioned hot letter. Letters can be e-mailed too. dog and apple pie cookout. • Act out the book Casey at the Bat or use it as a reader’s theater. • Have a favorite team dress-up day where stu- Bulletin Board dents wear their baseball/softball uniforms Here’s a sample of our “Hit a Home Run with (including hats which are normally against Reading!” bulletin board. Get creative. Baseball dress code so the kids love it!). bats and baseballs can create great letters. It also • Have the High School baseball or softball team looks good to use old book covers on this bulletin players or coaches come and read to classes board for a 3-D effect.
    [Show full text]
  • Digital Collections
    MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI, COLUMBIA THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI The State Historical Society of Missouri, heretofore organized under the laws of the State, shall be the trustee of this State-Laws of Missouri, 1899, R.S. of Mo., 1969, chapter 183, as revised 1978. OFFICERS, 1998-2001 LAWRENCE O. CHRISTENSEN, Rolla, President JAMES C. OLSON, Kansas City, First Vice President SHERIDAN A. LOGAN, St. Joseph, Second Vice President VIRGINIA G. YOUNG, Columbia, Third Vice President NOBLE E. CUNNINGHAM, JR., Columbia, Fourth Vice President R. KENNETH ELLIOTT, Liberty, Fifth Vice President ROBERT G. J. HOESTER, Kirkwood, Sixth Vice President ALBERT M. PRICE, Columbia, Treasurer JAMES W. GOODRICH, Columbia, Executive Director, Secretary, and Librarian PERMANENT TRUSTEES FORMER PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY H. RILEY BOCK, New Madrid ROBERT C. SMITH, Columbia LEO J. ROZIER, Perryville Avis G. TUCKER, Warrensburg TRUSTEES, 1997-2000 JOHN K. HULSTON, Springfield ARVARH E. STRICKLAND, Columbia JAMES B. NUTTER, Kansas City BLANCHE M. TOUHILL, St. Louis BOB PRIDDY, Jefferson City HENRY J. WATERS III, Columbia DALE REESMAN, Boonville TRUSTEES, 1998-2001 WALTER ALLEN, Brookfield VIRGINIA LAAS, Joplin CHARLES R. BROWN, St. Louis EMORY MELTON, Cassville VERA F. BURK, Kirksville DOYLE PATTERSON, Kansas City DICK FRANKLIN, Independence JAMES R. REINHARD, Hannibal TRUSTEES, 1999-2002 BRUCE H. BECKETT, Columbia W. GRANT MCMURRAY, Independence CHARLES B. BROWN, Kennett THOMAS L. MILLER, SR., Washington DONNA J. HUSTON, Marshall PHEBE ANN WILLIAMS, Kirkwood JAMES R. MAYO, Bloomfield EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Eight trustees elected by the board of trustees, together with the president of the Society, consti­ tute the executive committee.
    [Show full text]
  • FROM BULLDOGS to SUN DEVILS the EARLY YEARS ASU BASEBALL 1907-1958 Year ...Record
    THE TRADITION CONTINUES ASUBASEBALL 2005 2005 SUN DEVIL BASEBALL 2 There comes a time in a little boy’s life when baseball is introduced to him. Thus begins the long journey for those meant to play the game at a higher level, for those who love the game so much they strive to be a part of its history. Sun Devil Baseball! NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981 2005 SUN DEVIL BASEBALL 3 ASU AND THE GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD > For the past 26 years, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. (See winners box.) The award is presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball stars J. D. Drew, Pat Burrell, Jason Varitek, Jason Jennings and Mark Prior. > Arizona State’s Bob Horner won the inaugural award in 1978 after hitting .412 with 20 doubles and 25 RBI. Oddibe McDowell (1984) and Mike Kelly (1991) also won the award. > Dustin Pedroia was named one of five finalists for the 2004 Golden Spikes Award. He became the seventh all-time final- ist from ASU, including Horner (1978), McDowell (1984), Kelly (1990), Kelly (1991), Paul Lo Duca (1993) and Jacob Cruz (1994). ODDIBE MCDOWELL > With three Golden Spikes winners, ASU ranks tied for first with Florida State and Cal State Fullerton as the schools with the most players to have earned college baseball’s top honor. BOB HORNER GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD WINNERS 2004 Jered Weaver Long Beach State 2003 Rickie Weeks Southern 2002 Khalil Greene Clemson 2001 Mark Prior Southern California 2000 Kip Bouknight South Carolina 1999 Jason Jennings Baylor 1998 Pat Burrell Miami 1997 J.D.
    [Show full text]